₦airaland Forum

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Chapter one
“Life na like recharge card, if you no scratch am well, you fit wangele the
number ooh.”

To gain admission to Freedom college no be small thing oh, the thing
require better money and better influence for society. If your Palle or Malle
no get name, you no fit study for Freedom college oh. The teachers dem
wey dey teach for the school sef na Masters and Phd holders dem be. Na
scholarship wey I win for my village na him make me find myself for
Freedom college.

My name na Dada kumuyi, I be confirm low class guy from Jedijedi
village. My parents no hold ba but dem dey try sha. The secondary school
wey I be dey for village no be am at all, the school no get better roof,
windows no dey, na for floor we dey always sitdown, so if rain wan fall
everybody go close from school sote the unserious once dem dey always
pray sey make rain dey fall every day.
Naso I dey manage ooh, naso I dey
push am small small because I like education well well as I be wan become
future president of the country.

As I talk am earlier, my Palle and Malle no hold ba. My Palle na jack
of all trade as oyinbo people dey talk am. The meaning be say nothing my
Palle no dey do make small small money. If people wan dig well, na my
palle dem go call, if na bricklayer dem dey find, my Palle dey available, if
na carpenter nko, my Palle no dey carry last. My Malle sef dey support, she
dey sell akamu and akara for morning and puff puff for afternoon.

As my parents no raise me to be lazy, before I go school, I dey always
help my Malle for morning and if I come back from school, I dey follow
my Palle go husle. Na so our agenda dey be and I be their only pikin wey
remain. My elder sister pai even before I show sign for my Malle belle.

Every time before I sleep for night and for morning before I go
school, my parents dem dey always put me for middle. Dem dey always tell
me say make I dey remember who I be, say any situation wey I find myself
for this life, make I dey yarn the truth, say this world wey we dey so dey
full of ups and downs, say make I focus on my education, make I no make
bad friends, say make I dey respect people and make I dey always help
people if I fit.

My mind and body dey always dey flefle when I hear those advises
from my parents, the yarn dey always sweet me for body sote I no dey want
make dem dey leave my side.
E bi get one night like that after my parents give me general advise,
my Palle come meet me for parlour because na parlour I dey always sleep. I
come dey wonder wetin go make my Palle wake me up from my sleep.

“Palle, hope problem no dey?”I ask am.
“Problem no dey my pikin, I just dey worry?”
“Worry! Palle, shey landlord dey disturb you?
“No be landlord matter, I just dey worry about you.” this talk wey my
Palle yarn come make me even worry. Naso I come sitdown.
“Palle! Na wetin I do?
“You no do anything my pikin. I just dey worry about your future, I
no want make you end up like me.” The talk wey my Palle yarn come make
me wan cry. To see correct Palle for this world dey scarce oh.
“Palle, no worry yourself , all those advise wey you and Malle dey
give me no dey pass the other ear comot. Trust me I go study hard and I no
go fall una hand, I promise.”
“I no say you dey study hard and you sabi book well. I want make
you go university after your secondary school but money no dey, na wetin
dey worry me be that my pikin.” We no no say Malle dey back of us dey
hear our talk, naso she voice out.
“Baba Dada, nobody knows tomorrow oh. I know say our God wey
know tomorrow dey hear you and I know say he no go disappoint us. Make
you no worry, God go do am.”
“Hmm, God go do am! My pikin make you continue dey do well for
school, make you always be good pikin wey we train you to be. God bless
you my pikin.”

After my parents enter room go sleep. I come dey thank God as him
give me better parents wey rich for heart. Na that time I come promise,
come vow say I go work hard so my parents go fit dey proud of me.

INTRODUCTION
Adolescence is one of the most important stages of human
development. During the teenage years, young people face many
psychological, physical and relationship changes on their way to adulthood.

Furthermore, the adolescence stage is the most delicate stages of
human development; this is because teenagers tend to try something new
like experimenting with smoking and illicit substances and most especially
relationship with the opposite gender.

However, these risk-taking behaviours usually result to internal
conflict, health issues and undesirable social behaviour such as depression,
violence, lack of concentration, unsafe/ unwanted sex and unplanned
pregnancy and even suicide.

Hence, it’s important for parents/guardians, teachers and school
counsellors to educate teens on the consequences of these risky behaviours.
The teens should be supported and motivated all through this stage and
employ them to focus on self-development.

Vividly, when teens are encouraged to focus on self-development,
they’ll be able to learn new skills, discover their abilities, broaden their
horizon, focus on their studies, embrace good habits, and build a healthy
relationship with the opposite gender.

Therefore, this book tells a story about a teenager, Dada Kumuyi, who
was given a scholarship from his school in the village to further in the city.
He settled well in his new school but find it hard to balance his emotions
and studies.

The choice of the author’s language is fundamental. The basic reason
is to encourage and promote Pidgin English literature in Nigeria.